Prompt:
The package was just sitting there, so I...-Michael John Garcés, playwright/director
Response:
A bench sits center stage with a sign above that reads “Broadway Junction.” Train sounds are heard.
BIBI, a pretty young woman wearing a hijab, sits on the bench. She carries a large package wrapped in bright paper with a bow.
HENRY, a middle-aged African American male, enters from the left. He sees the young woman and stops at a good distance from her and faces the audience, waiting patiently.
After a few seconds, Henry looks over at Bibi. She sees him look and smiles at him. Henry smiles back, and turns back to the audience.
BIBI
(slight accent)
Excuse me. Do you have the time?
Henry looks at his watch.
HENRY
Five fifteen.
(Henry hesitates a moment)
Kind of early to be going to a party.
BIBI
I’m not going to a... Oh, the present. It’s... A friend is having... It’s for a baby sh...
(she shakes her head)
I’m just not a good liar.
HENRY
I’m confused.
BIBI
I shouldn’t even be talking to you.
HENRY
(slowly)
Okay...
BIBI
(hurrying to get out the truth)
It’s a birthday present for a man at work.
HENRY
(nodding)
And you like him.
Bidi nods and drops her head.
Silence.
Bibi looks off right. A look of fear comes over her face. She sets the package down behind the bench and scurries off left.
Henry notices this and is perplexed.
ARMAN, a young angry man with a swarthy complex dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, enters from the right. Arman approaches Henry.
ARMAN
Did you see that young woman?
HENRY
(hesitant)
The... the lady with the...
Henry points to his head and make a motion indicating the hijab.
ARMAN
Hijab.
Henry nods. Arman paces.
ARMAN
Did she talk to anyone?
HENRY
I don’t know... No? I just got here.
ARMAN
Was she carrying anything?
HENRY
She had a... present.
ARMAN
A present?
HENRY
Pretty wrapping paper. A bow.
ARMAN
I can’t believe my sister. She knows the rules.
HENRY
She was your sister?
ARMAN
(ignoring Henry)
What is she thinking?! I can’t believe she would do this!
Arman suddenly steps into Henry.
ARMAN
Which way did she go!?
HENRY
She went that away...
Henry points off left. Arman starts off after Bibi.
HENRY
But she left the present behind.
ARMAN
(stopping)
She did?
HENRY
(indicating the bench)
Yea. She left it behind the bench.
Arman goes and looks at the package.
ARMAN
(to himself)
Good, good.
Arman leaves quickly from the way he entered without so much as a glance back at Henry.
Henry looks perplexed. He goes to the bench and looks at the package. Suddenly, a light goes off in Henry’s mind. He takes his phone from his pocket and heads off. He stops at the edge of the stage and dials three numbers. He waits a moment.
HENRY
(into the phone)
Broadway Junction... My name is Henry Semple. Something weird just happened.
Henry looks back at the package and exits.
Curtain.
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